Seek Advice

My two years in Taos transformed my life—giving me challenges and encouragement to enter the ministry, making lifelong deep friends. Something about the plains yielding to the mountains, the striking crystal-clear blue sky, the blend of three cultures, and soul thrilling outdoor options. I suspected John Denver had been reading my mail in his line, “He was born in the summer of his 27th year, coming home to a place he’d never been before.” I came, I saw, I loved it, I knew it.

But when Rich and I rode into Taos last summer…

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French Camp Lessons

I know just enough science to trouble me, yet not enough to create a profession. My high school chem and physics captivated me, and I even taught junior high science for two years. My Sierra trips awoke an interest in geology and astrophysics, enough to purchase a graduate level text, “Annals of the Former World.” Frequent visits to a dictionary help me understand it. Guess getting philosophical and theological were destined at French Camp on…

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A River, a Family, a Faith

The pic comes from the movie A River Runs Through It, taken from Norman Maclean’s book, recounting the mostly true lives of a Presbyterian pastor in Missoula MT in the early 1900s and his two sons. Notice the beautiful writing in these early excerpts, but more so, notice how Maclean weaves his faith into all he does, including fly fishing.

“In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing…

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Stay Fresh with Instructions

We all know to read the directions before we start any project that requires assembly…or chemicals, but many think we can do it own our own. Unsettling when we see leftover parts. But perhaps we need to extend the truism of “read the directions,” to “stay fresh with directions.” We learned that the hard way.

If you have stainless steel, as in a sink, BBQ grill, or others, we recommend “Bartender’s Friend,” designed to work on stainless, aluminum, and porcelain. It’s served us…

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Blessings Follow Blessings

Serendipity: the marvelous surprise of discovering something pleasant and unplanned. Our bike trip to Taos last summer met that standard. Rich and I picked out a date in our busy summers that worked, made reservations ahead, only to discover on our arrival that Fiestas de Taos was in full swing. Fiestas bring a festive tone, fun, and a lot of crowds. Surprisingly, we got a fine rate at the classic Sagebrush Inn, with a nice room. Even better, their restaurant featured music every evening.

On Friday we rode 25 miles to Penasco, and on our return…

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Dawn

Last month I traveled to Tom’s Place in the Sierra to celebrate the Centennial of Riters visiting Rock Creek. Back in 1925, Dad traveled up the washboard dirt road of 395, and 100 years later I drove my F150 the 300 miles up the paved highway. The fishing, while very good, didn’t match earlier years, but memories and retracing his steps again brought joy to my soul. Sleeping in the Ford’s bed found me tossing and turning, and looking out the window prompted…

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Oh God!

Growing up in church and Sunday School, I often heard “don’t take God’s name in vain,” which typically meant to not use God in swearing. So good Christians were careful, using “acceptable substitutions,” like “Gosh darn.” Pretty weak, but safe. Later, I learned that we missed it. Cursing fits within the command, but it goes deeper. We should not use God casually, without being aware of the respect and admiration and glory and transcendence that is innately in God. For instance, ever use the phrase “God told me…” or “God led me…,” without being 100% sure God was speaking instead of indigestion or your desires? That could be taking God’s name in vain, if he didn’t say what you thought. That kind of…

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Our Best Laid Plans

Spring and summer had been full of activities. A total knee replacement April 1, recovery in May. June brought a week at a timeshare in San Clemente. A bike trip with Rich in mid-July, with teaching at a writing conference at the end of that month. August had a lot of physical therapy and other appointments, then September featured a treasured trip to Idaho to see our grandkids. That just left early October for a fishing and camping trip to my beloved Rock Creek in the Sierras.

But I had some concerns. My new knee…

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